hastings



" aient @filtre A. H. HASTINGS, O F NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent N 100,888, dated March 15, 1870; antedated March 5, 1.870.

DAMPBR FOR PIANO-FORTES.

The Schedule referredto in these Lettere Patent and making part of the same To all whom it may conce/nr:

Be it known that l, A. H. HAs'rINGs, of New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Damper-Action for Piano-Fortes; and I do hereby declare that the following is afnll, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyl ing drawing forming part of this specification.

The drawing represents a side view of my improved damper-action for piano-fortes.

llhis invention relates to anew manner of operating the dampers of upright piano-fortes directly by means oi the keys, with an object of avoiding friction, and for producing more reliable action than could heretofore be obtained by the devices now in use.

The invention consists in the combination with the damper lever of a short arm pivoted to the lower end of the level', and held with its free end in a notch of the key.

The invention also consists in the use of a flexible strap for connecting the lever with the spring by which lthe damper is applied.

A, in the drawing, represents one key of au upright plano-forte action connected with the hammer B in the ordinary, or in a suitable. manner, and provided at its inner or back end with a cushioned notch or indelitation, as shown.

F is a spring fastened with its upper end to the frame G, while its lower part fits through the loop of a strap, l), that is with its two ends fitted through an aperture of the lever C, said'ends being tied into a knot on the back of the lever, so that thereby the strap is held in place. The strap is made of leather or fabric to be flexible.

lThe operation is as follows:

NVhen the key is pressed down it will raise the front cnd ofthe arm E, and will thereby push the lowerend of the level' back. The damper is thus withdrawn from the chord. As soon as thekey is released the spring F will draw the lower end of the lever forward and apply the damper.

lhe pressure upon the back of the key occasioned by the spring diminishes as the key goes down, instead of being increased as heretofore. The desired effect in the touch can, therefore, be obtained, and much friction is avoided, as my apparatus is much simpler than those heretofore in use. The strap being ilexible allows the space between the spring and lever to vary during the mot-ion of the latter. The pedal acts against the front of the lower end of the lever C, as indicated at I.

Having thus described my invention,

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The damper-lever C of an upright piano-forte aetion when combined with the pivoted arm E, and with the notched key A, to operate substantially' as herein shown and described. p

2. The spring F, flexible strap?) and damper lever C, all combined to operate substantially as herein shown and described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 23d day of August, 1869.

' A. H. HASIINGS.V

Witnesses:

E. TATE, ALEX. F. RoBERTs. 

